DTM could race in Sochi in the future

The DTM could race at future Russian Grand Prix venue Sochi within the next two years, according to the man in charge of the series.

Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of championship promoter the ITR, said that he had been hugely impressed by the crowds achieved at Moscow Raceway when it hosted the DTM in July this year. He now believes that the potential marketing benefits in Russia for competing manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes would make a second race in the country hugely appealing.

"I believe the Russian market is so big that maybe one race is not enough," Aufrecht said. "I am sure that in one or two years we will have a race in Sochi too. It is 3000km from Moscow and that is a long way. You can sell a lot of cars in 3000km."

After visiting Russia for the first time this year, the 2014 DTM calendar is indicative of a further shift away from the series' traditional central and western European heartland towards new road car markets. Brands Hatch and Zandvoort will not be part of the series and have been replaced by races at the Hungaroring and on a street circuit in either Guangdong or Shanghai in China.